The Tea-to-water ratio for raw Pu'er is 1:15, which means for a 110 ml gaiwan, you should use 7 to 8 grams of raw Pu'er tea. Moreover, the flavor of raw Pu'er is stronger and richer, with a high-aroma profile. When brewing, pay attention to the water temperature, teaware, amount of tea used, and Infusion time. If too much tea is used, it can result in a bitter and Astringent infusion, negatively affecting the taste experience.
Is it correct to use 7 grams of tea?
Many people suggest using 7 grams of tea but overlook the capacity of the teapot or gaiwan.
During standard evaluation, the ratio is 110 ml of water to 7 grams of tea. However, in practical brewing, it is recommended to adjust the amount of tea based on the size of your teaware, referring to a 1:15 ratio. Additionally, you can adjust according to your preferred strength of the infusion.
It's not a fixed rule.
For those new to Pu'er tea, you can prepare a small scale and weigh the tea each time you brew, adhering to the tea-to-water ratio. Over time, you can rely more on your “feel” when measuring the tea.
Choice of Teaware
For fresh raw Pu'er tea, use water at a temperature between 95 to 100°C. When brewing, avoid pouring water directly onto the leaves; instead, pour around the inner walls of the gaiwan.
Porcelain gaiwans are suitable for this purpose.
Porcelain gaiwans have a fine texture and thick glaze, which do not retain flavors, making them ideal.
In other words, they allow for a truer representation of the tea's inherent qualities, such as its aroma and pure taste.
Evaluation Brewing Method
Weigh out 7 grams of tea samples evenly and place them in a standard gaiwan with an effective capacity of 110 mL. Pour boiling water up to the edge of the lid and perform three infusions, with each infusion lasting 5 seconds.
For the first infusion, pour out the tea after 30 seconds.
For the second infusion, pour out the tea after 60 seconds.
For the third infusion, pour out the tea after 30 seconds. The infusion times do not include the time taken to pour the water.